Reading: Revelation 3:7-22

I like that Jesus says the church in Philadelphia has but little power (verse 8). It reminds me of their football team. They have but little power.

Actually the commendation for this church happens at the beginning of verse 8. Jesus says, “I know your works,” then end of verse 8, “you have kept my word.” Ipso facto, we too should keep God’s word. If ever there is a time when the church needs to keep the Word of God, to guard the message, the time is now. Because as history is moving on, more and more churches are becoming soft; to accommodate the system of the world, they’re becoming very long on philosophy, very long on psychology, very long on social action, very short, very dim, very weak on truth, very weak in theology. But God’s like, “Not you, church in Philadelphia. Not you, Church in Park City. You keep serving. You keep loving. You keep guarding. And working. And striving.”

Additionally, we can’t be complacent. Lukewarm. That was the harsh words Jesus gave to the church in Laodicea. What a contrast between this, the church of Laodicea and the church at Philadelphia. Feel in your Spirit what Jesus is saying—with those eyes of penetrating fire, and that voice of roaring waters. He doesn’t say, “You are grieving me.” That would be terrible. He doesn’t say, “You are angering me,” which would be even worse. Yay He doesn’t even say, “You are irritating me.” No. He says, “You nauseate me.” Like. “I’m about to vomit because of what I see in you.” This is not the Jesus I remember hearing about in Sunday school. But. That’s what lukewarm will do to a guy. So don’t let your life become lukewarm. No passion. No zeal. No devotion to the things of God.

Lastly, lets address (perhaps) the most misquoted verse in all of Scripture. Verse 20. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. Who’s He talking to? It’s not the sinners. It’s those whom He loves and is trying to discipline. Verse 19. In other words, this isn’t a salvation text—it’s a reformation text. God is knocking on the door of the heart of the believer. Will you let Him in to correct you?

With Gratitude,

pLJ